Jeremy Reed, (2001) Saint Billie; Enitharmon Press.An anthology that captures the drama of Billie’s life and the jazz age.

ENCYCLOPAEDIAS AND REFERENCES BOOKS

Billie is of course mentioned in every reference work on jazz. Following are strongly recommended.
Leonard Feather, (1960) The Encyclopeadia of Jazz; Arthur Baker.One of the first in the field and still very reliable.

John Chilton, (1970) Who’s Who of Jazz; Bloomsbury.Obsessively comprehensive.

David Meeker, (1981) Jazz in the Movies; Talisman.Indispensable guide to jazz on film, includes all of Billie appearances plus TV.

DISCOGRAPHY

Jack Millar, (1979) Born to Swing; JazzMedia (Denmark).A model for all discographical writing. Updated by Jack Millar until his death in 1999.

Billie's Storyville

Billie Holiday was a true artist of her day and rose as a social phenomenon in the 1950s. Her soulful, unique singing voice and her ability to boldly turn any material that she confronted into her own music made her a superstar of her time. Today, Holiday is remembered for her masterpieces, creativity and vivacity, as many of Holiday’s songs are as well known today as they were decades ago. Holiday’s poignant voice is still considered to be one of the greatest jazz voices of all time.

Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan) grew up in jazz talent-rich Baltimore in the 1920s. As a young teenager, Holiday served the beginning part of her so-called “apprenticeship” by singing along with records by Bessie Smith or Louis Armstrong in after-hours jazz clubs. When Holiday’s mother, Sadie Fagan, moved to New York in search of a better job, Billie eventually went with her. She made her true singing debut in obscure Harlem nightclubs and borrowed her professional name – Billie Holiday – from screen star Billie Dove. Although she never underwent any technical training and never even so much as learned how to read music, Holiday quickly became an active participant in what was then one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the country. She would move from one club to another, working for tips. She would sometimes sing with the accompaniment of a house piano player while other times she would work as part of a group of performers.

At the age of 18 and after gaining more experience than most adult musicians can claim, Holiday was spotted by John Hammond and cut her first record as part of a studio group led by Benny Goodman, who was then just on the verge of public prominence. In 1935 Holiday’s career got a big push when she recorded four sides that went on to become hits, including “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” and “Miss Brown to You.” This landed her a recording contract of her own, and then, until 1942, she recorded a number of master tracks that would ultimately become an important building block of early American jazz music.

Holiday began working with Lester Young in 1936, who pegged her with her now-famous nickname of “Lady Day.” When Holiday joined Count Basie in 1937 and then Artie Shaw in 1938, she became one of the very first black women to work with a white orchestra, an impressive accomplishment of her time.

In the 1930s, when Holiday was working with Columbia Records, she was first introduced to the poem “Strange Fruit,” an emotional piece about the lynching of a black man. Though Columbia would not allow her to record the piece due to subject matter, Holiday went on to record the song with an alternate label, Commodore, and the song eventually became one of Holiday’s classics. It was “Strange Fruit” that eventually prompted Lady Day to continue more of her signature, moving ballads.

Holiday recorded about 100 new recordings on another label, Verve, from 1952 to 1959. Her voice became more rugged and vulnerable on these tracks than earlier in her career. During this period, she toured Europe, and made her final studio recordings for the MGM label in March of 1959.

Despite her lack of technical training, Holiday’s unique diction, inimitable phrasing and acute dramatic intensity made her the outstanding jazz singer of her day. White gardenias, worn in her hair, became her trademark. “Singing songs like the ‘The Man I Love’ or ‘Porgy’ is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck,” she wrote in her autobiography. “I’ve lived songs like that.”

Billie Holiday, a musical legend still popular today, died an untimely death at the age of 44. Her emotive voice, innovative techniques and touching songs will forever be remembered and enjoyed.

Fast Facts

Birth name: Eleanora Fagan Gough
Name change: Changed her name to “Billie Holiday” because of her admiration for film star “Billie Dove.” She was also known as “Lady Day.”
Occupation: Legendary jazz singer
Born April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died July 17, 1959 in New York City, New York
Buried at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in Bronx County, NY
Famous Tagline: “Lady Sings the Blues”
Height: 5’5″
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
The U2 song Angel of Harlem paid tribute to Holiday.
On September 18, 1994, the United States Postal Service honored Holiday by introducing a USPS-sponsored stamp.
She was discovered by John Hammond
A statue of Holiday still stands today at the corner of Lafayette and Pennsylvania Avenues in Baltimore.

– Her full length album, “Music for Torching”, is released for Clef Records
– Make her first appearance on The Tonight Show, hosted by Steve Allen

1956

– Her “Velvet Mood: Songs By Billie Holiday” album is released
– “Lady Sings The Blues” marks the last album for Clef Records
– Her autobiography, “Lady Sings The Blues”, is published by Doubleday
– Performs two sold shows at Carnegie Hall

1957

– Her “Body and Soul” and “Songs For Distingue Lovers” full length albums are released on Norman Granz’s new Verve Records

1958

– Norman Granz releases his last records with Billie, “Stay With Me” and “All or Nothing At All”
– Working with the Ray Ellis Orchestra, Billie makes her album debut on Columbia Records with “Lady In Satin”

1959

– Holiday completes her final album, “Billie Holiday”, retitled “Last Recordings” with MGM
– Holiday gives her final performance in New York City.
– July 17, Holiday dies in New York City and is buried at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in Bronx County, NY.

1961

– Live recordings from her last Carnegie Hall appearance are released as “The Essential Billie Holiday”

1965

– Nina Simone records her version of “Strange Fruit”

1972

– Diana Ross stars as Holiday in the film “Lady Sings the Blues”

1976

– “God Bless The Child” single inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

1978

– “Strange Fruit” single inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

1980

– “Billie Holiday – Giants of Jazz” wins a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album

– “Love Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)” single inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

1992

– Miki Howard stars as Billie Holiday in a club scene in “Malcolm X”
– “Billie Holiday – The Complete Decca Recordings” wins a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album

1994

– Etta James receives first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for her “Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday” album
– “The Complete Billie Holiday” wins a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
– On September 18, 1994, the United States Postal Service honored Holiday by introducing a USPS-sponsored stamp

1997

– Inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame

1999

– Ranked #6 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Women In Rock n’ Roll”
– Time Magazine declares “Strange Fruit” the Song of the Century

2000

– Billie Holiday is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Diana Ross is her presenter.
– “Lady In Satin” album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

2002

– “Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday” wins a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
– “Strange Fruit” honored by the Library of Congress as one of the 50 songs that year to be added to the National Recording Registry

– April 6th, Billie is inducted into The Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame. Two-time Grammy winner Cassandra Wilson presents the plaque as Lady Day joins other legends including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Louis Armstrong.